Preauricular sinus and cyst

Preauricular sinus and cyst
Classification and external resources
ICD-10	Q18.1
ICD-9	744.4
DiseasesDB	34576
MedlinePlus	003304

A preauricular sinus or cyst (also known as a "Congenital auricular fistula," "Congenital preauricular fistula," "Ear pit"^[1]:782, and "Preauricular cyst"^[2] ) is a common congenital malformation characterized by a nodule, dent or dimple located anywhere adjacent to the external ear.^[3] They are inherited features and usually appear on one side, but may be bilateral in 25-50% of cases. Preauricular sinuses and cysts result from developmental defects of the first and second branchial arches.^[4] Occasionally a preauricular sinus or a cyst can become infected.^[5]

Most preauricular sinuses are asymptomatic and remain untreated unless they become infected too often.^[6] Preauricular cysts are treated with surgery which, because of their close proximity to the facial nerve should be left to an experienced surgeon.^[7]

See also

• Branchial cleft cyst
• Thyroglossal cyst
• Lachiewicz Sibley syndrome
• List of cutaneous conditions

References

1. ^ Freedberg, et al. (2003). Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0071380760.
2. ^ Rapini, Ronald P.; Bolognia, Jean L.; Jorizzo, Joseph L. (2007). Dermatology: 2-Volume Set. St. Louis: Mosby. ISBN 1-4160-2999-0. 
3. ^ Noah S Scheinfeld; Valerie Nozad (Mar 18, 2008). "Preauricular Sinuses" (in english). http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1118768-overview. Retrieved 24 feb 2009. 
4. ^ From Stedman's Medical Spellchecker cyted in WrongDiagnosis.com (2006). "Preauricular Sinus" (in english). http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/medical/preauricular_sinus.htm. Retrieved 24 feb 2009. 
5. ^ James, William D.; Berger, Timothy G.; et al. (2006). Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. Saunders Elsevier. ISBN 0-7216-2921-0. 
6. ^ Stephen Ludwig, Stephan Strobel, Stephen D. Marks, Pete K. Smith, Ph.D., Magdi H. El Habbal, M.D., Lewis Spitz Visual Handbook of Pediatrics and Child Health Published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2008; page 517. ISBN 0781795052
7. ^ Michael Hawke Ear Disease Published by PMPH-USA, 2003; page 5. ISBN 1550092413

External links

• The preauricular sinus: A review of its aetiology, clinical presentation and management International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology (2005) 69, 1469—1474